Today, January 30, 2019 Emerging Markets ESG publishes the 27th edition of its Updated Database of Contacts in the Field of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). The database – with current information as of December 31, 2018 – lists 54 awards, 2,617 conferences/events, 323 indices and 2,090 organizations, divided among the following 12 categories: Academia (102 institutions); Companies – Listed Companies (512); Exchanges (46): Financial Institutions (432); Governmental Organizations (78); Media (98); Networks (173); Non-Governmental Organizations (291); Private-Public Partnerships (21); Professional and Trade Associations (105); Rating and Research (186); and Standard-Setting Organizations (47).
The most striking feature of the 27th edition of the database is the ongoing, dramatic increase in the number of conferences and events about SRI around the globe. 165 events were added to the database during the second half of 2018. This continues the trend taking place over the past two years: 209 events were added during the first half of 2018, 149 events were added during the second half of 2017 and 199 events were added during the first half of 2017. The updated database includes a variety of conferences, meetings, symposia and training programs about specific topics – such as climate finance, divestment (including divestment from firearms) and palm oil – as well as on broader issues such as ESG integration for financial institutions, ESG performance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and sustainability reporting for listed companies.
Of the 2,617 conferences/events listed in the database, 737 took place in the US, 405 in the United Kingdom, 112 in Switzerland, 100 in Germany, 87 in France, 86 in the Netherlands, 85 in Canada, 54 in Australia, 39 in Belgium, 29 in South Africa, 26 in Singapore, 25 in China, 25 in Italy, 24 in Hong Kong, 21 in Spain, 21 in Sweden, 19 in Austria, 19 in United Arab Emirates, 18 in Brazil, 18 in India, 17 in Mexico, 15 in Japan, 15 in Kenya, 13 in Denmark and 10 in Luxembourg. The distribution among these countries has remained consistent during the past decade.
The database lists 433 webinars, compared with 394 as of June 30, 2018; 351 as of December 31, 2017; 260 at year end 2016; 208 at year end 2015; 183 at year end 2014; 140 at year end 2013; and 89 webinars at year end 2012.
A second feature of this edition of the database is the ongoing growth of products and services as well as the scheduling of events in emerging markets. Geoffrey Mazullo, Principal, Emerging Markets ESG explains, “15 years ago common wisdom held that there was no such thing as SRI in emerging markets. This was ludicrous, of course – Islamic Finance and microfinance, two different types of SRI, both began in emerging markets. Today, every SRI strategy – exclusion, norms-based, best in class, sustainability-themed investments, ESG integration and engagement/voting – can be found in numerous emerging markets. Emerging Markets ESG’s database can help you find awards, events, indices and institutions all around the world.”
A third feature of the 27th edition of the database is its documentation of the continuing launch – over the past three years – of new SRI indices. 12 indices were added during the past six months. The database now lists 113 global indices, 47 regional indices (covering Africa, Americas, Asia, developed markets, emerging markets, Europe, Eurozone, etc.), country indices, sector indices and specialized indices, including several recently-launched climate indices. The database now contains 323 indices, versus 311 as of June 30, 2018; 276 at year end 2017; 226 at year end 2016; 202 as of June 30, 2016; and 125 at year end 2015.
In this edition of the database, Guernsey, Qatar and Uruguay appear for the first time. In addition, during the second half of 2018 a first network in Brazil, a first financial institution in Malaysia and a first event in Mauritius were added to the database. The database now includes entries from 107 countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.
The breadth and depth of the database demonstrates the growing relevance of SRI to mainstream and niche financial institutions – in developed, emerging and frontier markets.
A table of contents appears as the first worksheet and a statistics worksheet appears as the last worksheet in the database. Each worksheet is sorted alphabetically by institution; each worksheet may also be re-sorted alphabetically by country. Beginning with this edition of the database, the conferences & events worksheet can be sorted by month and year. Each new entry is highlighted in yellow. This enables users to quickly identify new awards, events, indices and institutions.
Bearing in mind the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Emerging Markets ESG informs readers that data from the database has never been sold and will never be sold. The database presents publicly-available information to the public in an easy-to-use format. It serves to: collect time series data about the development of SRI globally; identify SRI products and services, such as indices; identify institutions engaged in SRI; identify SRI ratings, research and standards; and promote a community of SRI practitioners.
The first edition of the database was published by the Partners for Financial Stability (PFS) Program in 2002, which updated it semi-annually through December 2009. Emerging Markets ESG took over management of the database in 2010 and now updates it semi-annually.
Every effort was made to update contact information in each worksheet. If a reader notes any out-of-date information, please contact Emerging Markets ESG. We will update the entry.
Emerging Markets ESG would appreciate your constructive criticism and feedback regarding the database.
The 28th edition of the updated database will be published in July 2019.
To download the database, please click on the link below:
Emerging Markets ESG – Updated Database of Contracts in the Field of SRI – December 2018